What to Expect

Talk to your doctor about your medications. You may be asked to stop taking some medicatons up to one week before the procedure, like:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Blood thinners

Antiplatelets

Leading up to your procedure:

Arrange for a ride to and from the procedure.

The night before, eat a light meal. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.

Local anesthetic will be given to numb the throat. It will also help to prevent coughing and gagging. Sometimes, a bronchoscopy is done under general anesthesia. In this case, you will be asleep.

The bronchoscope is a long, thin tube. It will be inserted through the nose or mouth. The scope will be passed down the throat and into the lungs.

The scope sends an image of the lung tissue to a TV monitor. The doctor may use the images and the scope to remove a small tissue sample. If a foreign body is present, the doctor may be able to remove it through the scope. If a lavage is planned, a water solution may be used to wash an area. The solution is then removed and sent to a lab for examination.

The removed tissue or secretions will be sent to a lab for examination.

Less than 1 hour

Anesthesia prevents pain and coughing during the procedure. You may feel a tugging sensation when the doctor removes a tissue sample. You may also experience some breathing difficulty or shortness of breath during the procedure.

Expect some soreness in your throat and hoarseness for a few days after the procedure. Any discomfort after the procedure can be managed with medications.

You may have an x-ray before you go home. This is to make sure there are no lung complications, such as bleeding or a pneumothorax. A pneumothorax can lead to a collapsed lung.

Once the numbness in your throat wears off, you may be given sips of water. You may gradually progress to solid food as tolerated.

When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:

Spit out saliva. Do not try to swallow it while your throat muscles are numb.

If you had a biopsy, do not cough or clear your throat.

Do not drive until the sedative has completely worn off and you are fully awake.

If you had to stop medications before the procedure, ask your doctor when you can start again.

Be sure to follow your doctor's
instructions
.

The doctor may give you a report after the sedative wears off and you are alert. It may take a few days to receive results from a biopsy. It may take up to six weeks for findings from a tuberculosis test. Ask your doctor when to expect your results.

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills

Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain

Coughing up more than a teaspoon of blood

Severe nausea or vomiting

Increased or unusual stridor, which is a noisy sound that is heard when breathing

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.